Even though Arsenal’s season came to a disappointing conclusion, Bukayo Saka has given fans cause for optimism going into the summer break. The wonderkid penned a new long term deal that will keep him at the Emirates through the summer of 2027. However, there is backstory to this as it took moths of negotiations to reach an agreement despite Saka making his wish to put stay at Arsenal clear.
Arsenal led the Premier League standings for 248 days this season, but their performance plummeted just when it mattered most, and Manchester City overtook them to win the league with three games remaining. However, moving up from fifth place to title contenders in the course of a season is a commendable accomplishment, and no doubt Bukayo Saka played a big part in it and as a result was handsomely rewarded.
Arsenal denied Bukayo Saka his contract wish despite handing a lucrative deal
This season, Bukayo Saka has participated in every game the Gunners have played in the league, further helping the club finish second and clinch their return to Champions League through posting a tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. There were reports that other elite teams were considering moves for Saka given of his exceptional play and the potential for improvement he has at just 21 years old.
The previous contract for Bukayo Saka was slated to expire at the conclusion of the next season, and negotiations for a new one dragged on for months. The England star finally signed a new four-year contract earlier this week to prolong his tenure at the Emirates Stadium until 2027, much to the delight of Mikel Arteta’s young and inspiring team.
According to reports, Saka’s base pay has been hiked to £200,000 per week and might reach £290,000 if specific goals are reached. However, despite his evident importance to the team, Arsenal refused to give into one of Bukayo Saka’s contract demands. Saka apparently signed a four-year extension this week despite the club declining his request to include a release clause in his new agreement.
The Gunners feel, their new agreement benefits both parties, with the club preserving Saka’s transfer value and the player maintaining his choices should he decide to depart in the near future, when the club will either sell or extend his contract again. Saka has already made 178 appearances for Arsenal despite being only 21 years old nd he seems destined to make many more.
As a result, Arsenal prefer to rely on the nimble negotiation talents of its transfer staff, as opposed to several Premier League teams, rather than adopt the European approach of granting players predetermined release clauses. The idea is apparently a brainchild of Arsenal’s sports director Edu, who has been praised his work at the club since assuming the role.
Nonetheless, despite denying him his request, Bukayo Saka looked more than happy to put pen to paper on a new deal. The Hale End academy product had confessed his desire of playing in the Champions League last season, when the Gunners missed out on the qualification in an end-of-the-season meltdown. However, Saka has finally achieved his dream along with the Gunners, who return to the competition after an absence of five years.